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Before we discuss what makes a good research question, let us explore the types of research questions and their importance. Lewis-Beck et al., (2004) explain that there are three main types of research questions: what, why, and how. The “what” questions require a descriptive answer. While the “why” questions ask for either the cause of or the reasons for. Finally, the “how” questions are concerned with bringing about change with practical outcomes.

Now, onto what makes a good research question. These are a few of many aspects to consider:

• Relevance – is the topic able to establish a clear purpose for the research in relation to the field. (Guide to Undergraduate Dissertations)
• Focus – is the topic specific enough to master with a reasonable amount of information and time given (Booth et al., 2016)
• Open-Ended Questions – does the topic invite deeper thinking and fostering further contribution to the broader field of knowledge
• Evidence – is there evidence to be found for this topic (Booth et al., 2016) for both primary or secondary research

Lastly, according to (Salkind, 2010), choosing the right question is “one of the most important decisions a researcher will make is deciding on a question that will be examined in the research process” p.1262.

References

Booth, W. C., Colomb, G. G., Williams, J. M., Bizup, J., & Fitzgerald, W. T. (2016). The Craft of Research. University of Chicago Press. http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/royalroads-ebooks/detail.action?docID=4785166

Guide to Undergraduate Dissertations. (n.d.). Retrieved July 3, 2020, from http://www.socscidiss.bham.ac.uk/research-question.html

Lewis-Beck, M., Bryman, A., & Futing Liao, T. (2004). The SAGE Encyclopedia of Social Science Research Methods. Sage Publications, Inc. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781412950589

Salkind, N. (2010). Encyclopedia of Research Design. SAGE Publications, Inc. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781412961288